The cyclical crisis of early marriage fuelling high school dropout rates among girls in Turkana is being addressed through football. Desert Roses, a community-based organisation, is using football as a tool of empowerment, education and social change through the “Let the Girl Play” initiative.
Desert Roses Centre has been established in Nataparkakono village on the outskirts of Lodwar town to create space for girls. Many families still marry off young daughters to acquire bride wealth in the form of livestock as a coping mechanism during severe economic hardship or drought.
Desert Roses founder Rael Lomoti said that before launching the centre, they organised a two-day Ata Nayeche Women Cup in Prison’s Ground where five teams, including one from Kakuma with girls from refugee camp and host community, participated.
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“The initiative was to celebrate girls in Turkana who have embraced education and are championing equality and more positions in both civil service and political space, as well as discussing how to tackle existing gaps,” Rael said.
The centre was commissioned by East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Askul, the first woman CS from the community. It also gets support from Woman Representative Cecilia Ngitit and County Education executive Leah Lokala.
Beatrice discouraged the community against early marriages, telling schoolgirls to focus on their education and embrace sports as a powerful tool to escape harmful cultural practices, combat gender-based violence (GBV) and unlock educational opportunities.
“Even some of those in marriages are contemplating why they did it early. Some have many children they cannot feed. Let’s take adequate time in school, play as much as we can, have skills or a good certificate to build a good future and at the right time get married,” she said.
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She said sporting events are an easy way of keeping youth engaged, while those whose talents are identified through regular tournaments should be nurtured and marketed for better earnings.
“Turkana community is good at learning new skills, which help locals boost standards of living. Organisations should support talented girls so that they can proudly relate with the 10,000-seater stadium the government is building at a cost of Sh900 million in Lodwar,” the CS said.
Cecilia encouraged young women and girls to embrace sports as a platform to nurture their talents, build confidence and pursue their dreams. “It was uplifting to witness young women and girls showcase their talent, confidence and determination through sports. Initiatives like this create safe spaces for girls to thrive, build leadership skills and pursue their dreams beyond the playing field,” she said.
Thanking Rael for the initiative, the woman representative said that when girls are given an opportunity to play, they are assured of an opportunity to dream, lead and shine.
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Leah said that since 2022, she has had the privilege of walking with the Desert Roses throughout a journey that she described as a beautiful reflection of what can happen when talent is nurtured, encouraged and given the opportunity to shine.
“I am proud that Ms Lomoti has even written a book, Roses Shall Shine, that has a phrase ‘Even in the harshest deserts, roses can rise’ as a central theme. The book, which I am part of, details how she uses football to challenge social norms, fight child marriage, and promote education for young girls,” she said.
Leah is aspiring for the Turkana Central parliamentary seat, while Sylvia Lapur is aspiring for the Senate seat. They are determined to face deep cultural, financial, and structural barriers that have held women back during elections in patriarchal communities.
Sylvia said that despite being educated, she has embraced Turkana tradition, comfortably don colourful beadwork in public, and has been teaming up with Desert Roses Centre to advocate girls’ education in settings where girls are beaded at a young age.
“I want to see all girls go to school. I am an example of a girl who was taken to school from primary level to university, employed and seeking an elective seat to help push this agenda at the decision-making table and in Parliament. An educated girl has double benefits for her parents because of earnings through career and [reverse] dowry,” she explained.
The women leaders acknowledged that before sporting activities were introduced, many girls were idle in their homes and were exposed to early pregnancies and other social harms. They appreciated that football is now an avenue of bringing girls together with a passion for sports so that they can interact and be kept busy at a centre where mentors enlightened them on why marriage can wait for its opportune time.
They resolved to ensure young girls are not traded for livestock through early marriages. They promised to bring aboard voices of elders and male politicians.